15 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is the size of a navel orange. You might not yet be feeling it, but your baby is kicking those little legs and flexing those elbows, while — higher up — you may be coping with some dental weirdness.

Baby Is Looking More Like a Baby

Curious why your body is finally looking pregnant? It's because at 15 weeks pregnant your baby is quickly growing bigger each week — he's as long as four inches right now. Need a better visual (and a snack)? Hold a large navel orange in your hand — that's how big your little darlin' is. (Now that you're done looking, peel that orange and eat it for a delicious two servings of vitamin C!). And with each passing week, your fetus is also looking more and more like the baby you're picturing in your dreams. By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head (they used to be in the neck) and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face — where they'll soon meet your loving gaze.

So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing and getting ready for that big debut. Babies work on breathing, sucking and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive. Your fetus is also holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes and moving those little arms and legs – but because he doesn't weigh much yet (about two-and-a-half ounces), you won't feel the fetal movements going on inside your abdominal gym.

Your Body at Week 15

Does it get any better than this? By this week, many of those bothersome early pregnancy symptoms have disappeared — and happily you're not too big to get around (or get out of your chair without the help of a forklift…more on that later) at 15 weeks pregnant. And now that you're finally able to open wide without throwing up (or gagging on extra saliva), it's a good time to focus on your mouth, which, believe it or not, is also going through a number of pregnancy-induced changes.

Bleeding Gums & Dental Care

Say cheese — and take a good look in the mirror. You might notice that you have red, swollen gums and they may even be sore, sensitive or prone to bleeding when you brush or floss. It's those pregnancy hormones at work again, this time triggering gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, by making them react differently to the bacteria in plaque (those hormones are also the cause behind a chronic stuffy nose or even nosebleeds). Look even more closely and you may notice a small bump on your gums, called a pregnancy tumor. Before you start worrying, keep in mind that these benign growths are scarily named but completely harmless and painless. If you do develop one, it'll go away on its own after delivery.

What is a little more alarming is what can happen if you don't take care of your teeth while you're expecting. Gingivitis can progress to an infection of the bones and tissues supporting your teeth called periodontitis — and research has shown a link between periodontitis, premature labor and preeclampsia. Prevention is key: Good oral hygiene, which includes regular dental care, brushing at least twice a day and gentle flossing once a day, will greatly reduce gum swelling, bleeding and soreness.

Try This: Gaining Weight

Whether you were barely able to gain an ounce during the first trimester (thanks to all that toilet hugging) or you gained more ounces — and pounds — than you care to admit (courtesy of all those comforting carbs your queasy self was overloading on), it's weight gain time now. Starting in the second trimester, your baby's getting bigger and bigger, and consequently, you should be too. Make slow and steady your motto and aim for a weekly weight gain of about one pound. But keep in mind that's an average, which means that it's perfectly fine to gain half a pound one week and a pound and a half the next, as long as you're netting about four pounds a month. If you're weighing in at home, once a week or once every other week is plenty; just make sure you do it consistently, at about the same time and under the same conditions (undressed and right after getting up, for instance). Or leave the weigh-ins to your practitioner at your monthly visits.

More Tips

Common Symptoms

Now that you’re hungrier, you may find that eating large amounts of food in one sitting can lead to heartburn or indigestion. Guard against gastrointestinal discomfort by eating several small meals throughout the day (rather than three large ones) so as not to overload your digestive system.Read more

Headaches can be caused by just about anything during pregnancy — hormones, fatigue, stress. To lessen your pain, place a cool compress on your forehead or on the back of your neck and sit in a dark, quiet room.Read more

If you can’t find a place to lie down or sit when you feel light-headed, kneel and bend your head forward as though you were tying your shoe. This will help prevent you from fainting and taking a spill.Read more

The good news about varicose veins? They’re unlikely to cause any harm. Plus, their presence is a good excuse to sit down and kick back with your feet up, since elevating your legs helps keep blood circulating and reduces pressure on the veins in your legs.Read more

As the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus stretch, you might notice some pain on the lower sides of your belly (technically called round ligament pain). This is perfectly normal — but if the pain becomes severe, let your practitioner know.Read more

Can't seem to remember where you left your wallet or when your next doctor appointment's scheduled? It's a hallmark of pregnancy and it's real — your brain-cell volume actually decreases during pregnancy. Try using your laptop, smartphone or tablet to help keep you organized and less forgetful.Read more

Ask Your Doctor

I’ve been having nosebleeds. Is it true that vitamin C will help? Anything else?

When I feel short of breath, does it also affect the baby’s breathing?

My gums bleed sometimes after I brush. Does that mean I have gum disease? Should I see a dentist?

I’ve started getting horrible leg cramps at night. Could they be signs of a blood clot?

I think I have hemorrhoids. How can I tell? Can I use hemorrhoid creams or pads for relief?

My mom and sister had varicose veins during pregnancy. Can I do anything to prevent getting them?

I have tons of energy. Can doing too much harm the baby?

Now that my nausea is gone, I’m always hungry. How do I know if I’m eating too much?

How can I tell if increased vaginal discharge is normal or a yeast or bacterial infection?

I’m forgetful lately. Can I take ginkgo biloba or a fish oil supplement to help boost my memory?

Why does my stomach look flat some days and big on other days?

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.